The Used Car Index

2003 Cadillac Escalade EXT problems

NHTSA lists 15 complaints for the 2003 Cadillac Escalade EXT, 1 of them mention a crash and 2 mention a fire. 2 complaints mention an injury, with 3 injuries and 0 deaths reported.

Data build 2026-10-08.

NHTSA lists this vehicle as CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT.

At a glance

Complaints
15
With crash
1
With fire
2
With injury (complaints)
2
Injuries
3
Deaths
0
Recalls
2
Do not drive recalls
0
Park outside recalls
0
Recall potential units (maximum)
3,662,211
Investigations
0
Open investigations
0
Manufacturer communications
88

Complaints per 100k sold unavailable. No sales source is available for this record.

Where the complaints are

Top systems
SystemComplaintsShare of this vehicle's complaints
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM426.7%
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC426.7%
SERVICE BRAKES320.0%
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE213.3%
POWER TRAIN213.3%
STEERING213.3%
AIR BAGS16.7%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL16.7%
ENGINE16.7%
EQUIPMENT16.7%
Top subsystems
SystemSubsystemComplaints
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINEDELIVERY2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICFOUNDATION COMPONENTS2
AIR BAGSFRONTAL1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMINSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL1
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROLAUTOMATIC (ASC)1
POWER TRAINDRIVELINE1
STEERINGHYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM1
STRUCTUREBODY1

One complaint can name several systems, so shares can add to more than 100 percent.

Model-generated complaint tags: This model year has not been tagged.

Recalls

See new recalls and investigations this week.

2 recalls.

04V129000

Date: 2004-03-17. Systems: STRUCTURE.

Defect: ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE GALVANIZED STEEL TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES THAT RETAIN THE TAILGATE IN THE FULL OPEN (HORIZONTAL) POSITION MAY CORRODE, WEAKEN, AND EVENTUALLY FRACTURE. IF BOTH CABLES FRACTURED, THE TAILGATE WOULD SUDDENLY DROP AND STRIKE THE TOP SURFACE OF THE REAR BUMPER.

Consequence: ANYONE SITTING OR STANDING ON THE HORIZONTAL SURFACE OF THE TAILGATE WHEN BOTH CABLES FRACTURED COULD BE INJURED BY FALLING FROM THE TAILGATE. ON VEHICLES THAT HAVE HAD THE BUMPER REMOVED, THE TAILGATE MAY DROP EVEN LOWER. ADDITIONALLY, IF THERE IS CARGO ON THE TAILGATE THE CARGO MAY FALL OFF IF THE SUPPORT CABLES FRACTURE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CABLES. INTERIM OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 7, 20004. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2004, WHEN REPLACEMENT PARTS WERE AVAILABLE, AND WILL CONTINUE THROUGH OCTOBER 29, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, OR VISIT WWW.MYGMLINK.COM, AND ENTER YOUR VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

04V045000

Date: 2004-02-04. Systems: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC.

Defect: CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, PICKUP TRUCKS, AND PASSENGER VANS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 135, ?PASSENGER CAR BRAKE SYSTEMS.? SOME OF THESE VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH AN OUT-OF-SPECIFICATION BRAKE HYDRO-BOOST HOUSING RELIEF VALVE BORE.

Consequence: CONSEQUENTLY, THE VALVE O-RING SEAL MAY FRACTURE. STEERING EFFORTS MAY BE SLIGHTLY INCREASED WHILE BRAKING OR PARKING. UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS, A FRACTURED SEAL MAY REQUIRE A SLIGHT INCREASE IN THE APPLIED BRAKE PEDAL EFFORT TO ACHIEVE THE SAME VEHICLE DECELERATION RATE AS PRIOR TO THE SEAT FRACTURE.

Remedy: DEALERS ARE TO REPLACE THE HYDRO-BOOST RELIEF VALVE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 18, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339; CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; GMC AT 1-866-996-9463; OR HUMMER AT 1-866-486-6376.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

Investigations

0 investigations; 0 open.

Manufacturer communications

88 manufacturer communications.

Communications by system
SystemCount
EQUIPMENT25
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM13
POWER TRAIN8
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING6
STRUCTURE6
SEATS5
TIRES5
VISIBILITY5

10115913

Date: 2016-10-10. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

All applicable vehicle applications are without Electronic Accessory Control System option. This communication is to return unsold inventory because some product sold in 2016 may not have coil harness wound in a centered condition as an assembly aid. If installer does not center the rotations of the

10114431

Date: 2016-02-23. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that may have an issue when using Bluetooth voice recognition with an iPhone. Technician should work with the customer to insure the phone contacts to not have any Emojis loaded to any contact.

10096026

Date: 2016-02-11. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

THIS PRELIMINARY INFORMATION COMMUNICATION PROVIDES INFORMATION TO THE TECHNICIAN ABOUT FINDING NEEDLE BEARINGS DURING AN OIL CHANGE. TECHNICIAN WILL GAIN ACCESS TO THE ROLLER ROCKERS TO INSPECT THEM. ONLY REPLACE THE ROLLER ROCKER THAT IS MISSING NEEDLE BEARINGS. BE SURE TO CLEAN THE OIL DRAINS TO

10112299

Date: 2016-01-27. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

This informational bulletin provides information on Part Restriction and Ordering Process Information for OnStar Vehicle Communication Interface Modules (VCIM) (GMNA Only)

10115143

Date: 2015-11-30. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about gasoline powered cars, mid-size trucks, light duty trucks, and heavy duty trucks with premature catalytic converter failures. It is recommended to inspect for a poor crimp on the grounds ring terminal at the engi

10113787

Date: 2015-08-03. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: SEAT BELTS.

This informational bulletin provides information to advise dealers about seat belt buckles not operating and/or seat belt warning light illumination, as well as difficulty latching and unlatching the buckle or the buckle release button sticking.

10113664

Date: 2015-05-29. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: POWER TRAIN.

This informational bulletin provides technicians with information regarding automatic transmission oil cooler flow test essential tool J-45096 TransFlowA?.

10113662

Date: 2015-05-27. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER.

This informational bulletin provides dealership personnel with information on flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs) and the usage of E85 fuel in GM vehicles.

10113652

Date: 2015-05-15. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

This informational bulletin provides information on a GM of Canada OnStarA? cellular communication upgrade.

10113654

Date: 2015-05-15. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

This informational bulletin provides information on a GM of Canada OnStarA? cellular communication upgrade.

Notes on this record

  • Complaints from the API and bulk file are merged and deduplicated by ODI number; the API alone misses records.
  • System and subsystem counts are numbers of distinct complaints, recalls or communications that name them. One record can name several systems, so shares across systems can add to more than 100 percent; a single share never exceeds 100 percent.
  • Recalls are counted once per campaign, investigations once per action and manufacturer communications once per NHTSA id, even when NHTSA lists several model names for the same record.
  • A sales denominator is a calendar-year proxy, not the population of vehicles still in use. Rates are copied from verified pipeline output.

Other names NHTSA uses

None listed.

Matched NHTSA models

Matched labels and complaints
NHTSA model labelComplaints
ESCALADE EXT15

Same model, other years

All model years | All Cadillac models

Other Cadillac models, 2003

Sources

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